IT Accessibility Review
Volume 1, Number 3
Around the IT/Web Accessible World
International Workshop on Accessibility Requirements for Public Procurement in the ICT Domain
At a recent workshop held in Brussels, Belgium from October 19 - 21, 2004, a group of approximately 125 attendees met to examine how People with Disabilities (PWD) and older persons could use standardization and legislation to harmonize Information and Communication Technology (ICT) public procurement to support accessibility to the information society. Several groups including The European Commission and the US Access Board organized the workshop. Workshop participants included stakeholders from industry, government, the disabled community, education, and research.
The goals were to discuss and explore how public procurement can be used to improve accessibility, and how a standardized public procurement process could be used to improve the current situation. Support for a public procurement process is seen as beneficial for both consumers and industry as it will increase the market demand of accessible mainstream ICT products and services. Those responsible for procurement see awareness of accessibility issues as key.
There is a clear need for training and support for those individuals in procurement positions since they are not typically accessibility or disability experts. Procurement toolkits that provide clear and comprehensible requirements by both supplier and purchaser are needed to help ensure that accessibility enhancements don´t increase product costs and don´t inhibit technological advancement. Guidelines, examples, checklists, and additional resources are necessary for a public procurement process of accessible ICT to be successful.
In general, gaining consensus in a unified international public procurement and standards harmonization effort for accessible ICT is time sensitive as the current fragmentation of standards continues to increase costs, time to market, and confusion in the accessibility market. These groups will continue to meet and engage in ongoing dialogue to promote a unified approach.
The Basic Law for Persons with Disabilities
The Japanese Diet approved amendments of "The Basic Law for Persons with Disabilities" last May/June.
"Section 19: Accessible communication" was added to the Law, which relates to ICT accessibility. The translation of the Section is as follows:
- The national government and the local governments shall take necessary measures through disseminating accessible computers and accessible information technology devices, facilitating accessible telecommunication and accessible broadcasting services, and making adjustments of facilities that provide information for persons with disabilities so that they can make use of accessible communication to express their own will.
- The national government and the local governments shall especially take into account accessibility for persons with disabilities in providing public information and promoting utilization of information technology.
- Service providers for telecommunication, broadcasting, information, computer, and other information technology devices shall make efforts to take into account accessibility for persons with disabilities in providing services or manufacturing devices based on social solidarity.
English translation of the amended law is now available in the following URL:
http://www8.cao.go.jp/shougai/english/law/no84.html
Study on Assistive Technology in Europe
The European Union Commission launched a study on assistive technology (AT) in Europe. Deloitte & Touche performed the 188-page study, entitled "Access to Assistive Technology in the European Union." It discusses legislative and regulatory aspects, market structures, and delivery systems of AT in the EU nations. The study also focuses on AT in the workplace within these countries.
The complete study is available at the following link:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/employment_social/disability/
assistive_technology_study_en.pdf
